Span 20 at 10 g/l induced dispersed mycelial growth of Blakeslea trisp
ora, and significantly increased beta-carotene production to 2.16 g/l.
Without surfactant only 0.15 g beta-carotene/l was produced. Other no
n-ionic surfactants composed of the same hydrophilic part as Span 20 a
nd the hydrophobic fatty acids of Spans, including lauric acid (C-12),
neither induced dispersed growth of the microorganism nor increased b
eta-carotene production.